Launching device for aeronautical toys



United States Patent ice 3,119,584 Patented Jan. 28, 1934 3,119,584 LAUNCHING DEVICE FGR AERGNAUTICAL TOYS Willis L. Kimbel, 239 W. Bonnie Brae Court, Ontario, Calif. Filed (Get. 1, I962, Ser. No. 227,241 r 3 (Ilaims. (Q1. 244-155) This invention relates to devices for launching toy parachutes, gliders and the like, and more particularly to a device for transporting such toys upwardly along a kite string and launching the toys at a selected altitude above the earth.

Kite string traveling toy launchers of the prior art, in general, have suffered from several serious disadvantages. One of the most outstanding of these has been that they will not release a toy once they have reached a selected altitude. Another is that the launcher will not return to the earth once the toy has been released. Still another is that such prior art devices have required a considerable number of complicated component parts.

The device of the present invention overcomes the above-described and other disadvantages of the prior art by providing a body, hook means to suspend the body from a kite string, securing means on the body for providing longitudinally spaced forward and rear openings, a shaft guided relative to the body and slidable from a position extending through both of the openings toa position outside thereof, and means on the shaft to be engaged by a member on the kite string to move the shaft rearwardly relative to said body. In this case, the securing means may include a surface adjacent the forward opening in a substantially transverse plane. Although it is not readily apparent why such a surface construction and location does so, it does in fact permit the release of a toy reliably at a selected altitude. It is possible that this construction does so because such a surface, when inclined toward the end of the shaft, might hold the shaft in a fixed position. Note will be taken that the hook or eye of a toy will generally be located around the shaft. The wind resistance of the toy will carry it and the launching device upwardly along the kite string. Hence, the hook or eye of the toy will become wedged between the shaft and a forwardly and downwardly inclined surface to hold the shaft in a fixed position relative to the body. By not beins movable, the shaft therefore will not release the toy. In addition, should the surface surrounding the forward opening be inclined rearwardly and downwardly, the body at this surface might act as a hook and suspend the toy therefrom even though the shaft were withdrawn from the forward opening.

In accordance with the present invention, after the toy has been released, the rapid and reliable return of the launching device of the present invention is facilitated in accordance therewith by employing a launching device of a weight sufficient to cause the same to return down the kite string. The return is also facilitated, in accordance with the present invention, by streamlining the body.

Still further, the return of the launching device is facilitated by employing spaced hooks for the hook means having smooth surfaces to reduce the frictional force impeding the movement of the body on the kite string.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the shaft may be simply a U-shaped wire and the hooks may be screw eyes. Alternatively, a rectangular body I may be employed with wire staples to guide movement In the drawings which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a rear end elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a forward end elevational view of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of the device shown in FIG. 2

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with a toy attachment shaft shown in a toy release or launching position;

FIG. 6 is a rear end view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a forward end view of the device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with a toy retaining shaft shown in a toy launching position; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, inclusive.

In FIG. 1, a body 29 is shown having a slot 21 therein in which a U-shaped wire 22 is slidable. Wire 22 is provided with an upwardly extending end 23 which engages an enlargement on a kite string to release a toy to be launched by the device. The body 29 is supported from a pair of hooks 24 and 25 which are threaded into body 26 at their lower ends. Both hooks 24 and 25 are shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The shape of end 23 of Wire 22 is perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Note will be taken that wire 22 is slidable in holes 26, 27 and 28 in body 20, as is perhaps best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIG. 4, the device of the present invention is shown in the closed position. That is, a screw, eye or hook of a toy surrounds an end 29 of wire 22 inside a notch 30 of body 20. When end 23 of wire 22 engages an enlargement on a kite string, the shaft 22 will be moved to a position shown in FIG. 5 and the toy supported thereby will be released in that end 29 of wire 22 will be withdrawn from the space in notch 33?. Note will be taken that it is an important feature of the present invention that surface 31 surrounding opening 28 in body 20 is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which wire end 29 slides in opening 28.

Note will be taken that the shape of body 20 and the slot 21 therein make the same streamlined, whereby the launching device may return to earth on the kite string after it has launched the toy.

Hooks 24 and 25 preferably are made of a polished or smooth metal to reduce friction between them and the kite string. The weight of body 20 may be sufiicient to return the launching device down the kite string. In this regard, body 26 may be made of any of a great number of materials such as wood, plastic or aluminum.

In FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present invention is shown including a perfectly rectangular body 32 having hooks 33 and 34 threaded thereinto to support body 32 on a kite string. A U-shaped wire 35 is slidable on body 32 through a first pair of staples 36 and 37, through a second pair of staples 38 and 39 and through an intermediatestaple 40. As in the case of end 23 of wire 22, wire 35 also is provided with an end 41 to engage an enlargement on a kite string.

Note will be taken in FIG. 7 that wire 35 is provided with a bend at 42 and another bend at 46. As shown in both FIGS. 9 and 11, bends 42 and 46 in effect provide portions 44 and 45 of wire 35 which are parallel to each other in the same vertical plane and are connected by an intermediate portion 43 which is disposed at an angle relative to portions 44 and 45. In the position shown in FIG. 10, staple 40 engages bend 42 to limit the rearward longitudinal movement of wire 35. In the position shown in FIG. 9, base 47 of U-shaped wire engages staple to limit the forward longitudinal movement of wire 35. As stated previously, a hook or screw eye of a toy is located around portion of wire 35 between staples 38 and 39 prior to launching. The toy is launched when an enlargement on the string through hooks 33 and 34 engages end 41 of wire 35 to move the same rearwardly to the position shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the toy is launched. Note will be taken that sliding movement of wire 35 is controlled adjacent bottom surface of wire 32, in that staples 36, 37 and 40 fit rather close to wire 35. On the other hand, staples 38 and 39 extend a substantial distance from the bottom surface of body 32, whereby a toy may be loaded on portion 45 of wire 35.

In accordance with the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the perpendicular surface 31 of body 20 and the vertically extending staple 39 of body 32. provide a reliable release for launching a toy. In addition, by making body 20 or body 32 of a weight suflicient to return on a guide string to the earth, the same launching device may be rapidly used to launch the same or different toys. The streamlined character of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, also facilitates the return of the device as does the smooth internal surface of the hooks 24, 25, 33 and 34. Note will be taken that the constructions of the devices shown in the drawings are made unusually simple by the use of a single U-shaped wire 22 or 35. The constructions of such embodiments also requires a few uncomplicated component parts, wire 22 being guided in openings 26, 27 and 28 in body 20, and wire 35 being guided through the openings in staples 36, 37, 33, 39 and 40 fixed to the bottom surface of body 32.

Note will be taken that hooks 24 and 25 are spiral in shape. Further, they make a complete circle in FIGS. 1 and 3. Their characteristic shape and size is a feature of the present invention because it is by the same that the launcher body is held securely on a kite string while a toy is being launched. That is, the launcher is thereby kept from separating from the string at the moment a toy is released.

Although only two specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, the true scope of the invention being defined only in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for launching toy parachutes, gliders and the like from a kite string, said device comprising: a body; means to suspend said body from a kite string; a first pair of longitudinally spaced staples in the bottom of said body; a U-shaped shaft having one leg sl-idable through said first pair of staples, said one leg having means at its end to engage an enlargement on the kite string; a third staple straddling the other leg of said shaft near the base of the U; and a second pair of longitudinally spaced staples straddling said other shaft leg near the end thereof, said other shaft leg being sl-idable rear- Wardly from a position extending through both of said second pair of staples to a position such that said other shaft leg is withdrawn from the space between said sec- 0nd pair of staples, said other shaft leg having a first portion slidable through said third staple contiguous to said body in approximately the same plane as said one shaft leg and the base of the D, said other shaft leg having a second portion approximately parallel to and spaced downwardly from said first portion to extend through said second pair of staples, said other shaft leg also hav ing a portion inter-mediate said first and second portions connecting the same, said intermediate portion being disposed at an angle relative to said first and second portions.

2. A kite string traveler comprising: an elongated body; means to suspend said body from a kite string, said body having an upper hole running throughout the entire length thereof; a U-shaped member having an upper leg slidable in said upper body hole, said body completely enclosing said upper member leg in said upper hole by completely surrounding said upper leg along the entire length of said hole, said body having forward and rear aligned lower holes, said lower holes being separated by a notch in said body, said U-shaped member having a lower leg slidable in said lower holes, said body com pletely enclosing said lower member leg in said lower body holes by completely surrounding said lower leg along the entire lengths of said lower holes; and means to prevent said member from sliding all the way out of said holes, said upper member leg being longer than said upper body hole, said U-shaped member having a vertical base connecting said legs thereof, the rearward end of said body having a vertical slot therethrough to receive said member base, said slot having a length approximately equal to the length of said upper member leg less the length of said upper body hole.

3. A kite string traveler comprising: an elongated body; means to suspend said body from a kite string, said body having an upper hole running throughout the entire length thereof; a U-shaped member having an upper leg slidable in said upper body hole; said body completely enclosing said upper member leg in said upper hole by completely surrounding said upper leg along the entire length of said hole, said body having forward and rear aligned lower holes, said lower holes being separated by a notch in said body, said U-shaped member having a lower leg slidable in said lower holes, said body completely enclosing said lower member leg in said lower body holes by completely surrounding said lower leg along the entire lengths of said lower holes; and means to prevent said member from sliding all the way out of said holes, said upper member leg being longer than said upper body hole, said U-shaped member has a vertical base connecting said legs thereof, the rearward end of said body having a vertical slot therethrough to'receive said member base, said slot having a length approximately equal to the length of said upper member leg less the length of said upper body hole, said forward lower body hole being a recess open only at one end, said lower member leg having a length greater than the distance from the rearward end of said rear hole to the rearward end of said forward hole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,228,697 Emmick Jan. 14, 1941 2,689,699 Sanders Sept. 21, 1954 2,983,471 Melvin May 9, 1961 3,023,987 Johnson Mar. 6, 1962 3,034,751 Droullard May 15, 1962 3,062,488 Sulger Nov. 6, 1962 

1. A DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING TOY PARACHUTES, GLIDERS AND THE LIKE FROM A KITE STRING, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A BODY; MEANS TO SUSPEND SAID BODY FROM A KITE STRING; A FIRST PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED STAPLES IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODY; A U-SHAPED SHAFT HAVING ONE LEG SLIDABLE THROUGH SAID FIRST PAIR OF STAPLES, SAID ONE LEG HAVING MEANS AT ITS END TO ENGAGE AN ENLARGEMENT ON THE KITE STRING; A THIRD STAPLE STRADDLING THE OTHER LEG OF SAID SHAFT NEAR THE BASE OF THE U; AND A SECOND PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED STAPLES STRADDLING SAID OTHER SHAFT LEG NEAR THE END THEREOF, SAID OTHER SHAFT LEG BEING SLIDABLE REARWARDLY FROM A POSITION EXTENDING THROUGH BOTH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF STAPLES TO A POSITION SUCH THAT SAID OTHER SHAFT LEG IS WITHDRAWN FROM THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID SECOND PAIR OF STAPLES, SAID OTHER SHAFT LEG HAVING A FIRST PORTION SLIDABLE THROUGH SAID THIRD STAPLE CONTIGUOUS TO SAID BODY IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME PLANE AS SAID ONE SHAFT LEG AND THE BASE OF THE U, SAID OTHER SHAFT LEG HAVING A SECOND PORTION APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL TO AND SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION TO EXTEND THROUGH SAID SECOND PAIR OF STAPLES, SAID OTHER SHAFT LEG ALSO HAVING A PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS CONNECTING THE SAME, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION BEING DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS. 